stedfastness\" The versatility both of the one and of the other originates in this, that they have never obtained such a knowledge of God in Christ Jesus as has brought perfect peace into their souls. They know not what God is to his people: they see not to what an extent he has pledged himself to them ; they have no conception of the interest which the Lord Jesus Christ takes in them, or how indissolubly connected their hap- piness is with his honour and glory. Let tbem be well " rooted and built up in Christ, and established in the faith, as they have been taught, abounding therein with thanks- giving';" and they will "stand fast in the faith," and suffer nothing to "move them away from the hope of the Gospel."]
2. In his practice — [The man that cannot fully confide in God will be alarmed, whenever a storm is gathering around him. Were " his mind fully stayed on God, he would be kept in perfect peace™; and, when menaced with the most formidable assaults, would reply, " None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto me, so that I may but finish my course Avith joy^" But the double-minded man is so terrified by his ad- versaries, that he dares not to proceed in the plain path of duty. Like " the stony-ground hearers, he is presently of- fended, and in time of temptation will fall away." How many of this description are there in every place, where the Gospel Js preached in sincerity and truth ! It convinces many ; it calls forth many to make an open profession of their accept- ance of it : but in a little time how many fair blossoms wither ! how many are blown off from the tree by storms and tem- pests ! and how many, through their unbelief, are found rot- ten at the core ! Verily, it is rather the gleanings, than the harvest, that is brought home to reward the toil that has been bestowed upon them ; so many " turn back unto perdition, and so few believe to the saving of the soul."
But it may here be asked, Are we in no case to bend to circumstances ? Did not St. Paul himself diversify his modes of conduct, sometimes complying with Jewish rites, which at other times he declared to have been utterly abolished ? Yea, was he not of so accommodating a disposition, that he became all things to all men, and acted as a Jew or as a Gen- tile, according to the society with which he mixed ? Yes ; he did so : but there is this great difference between his conduct and that of a double-minded man : what Paul did, he did for the benefit of others : but the compliances of the double- minded man are only for the purpose of preventing evil to himself. His compliances too were only in things of perfect
indiffe- " 2 Pet, iii. 17. * Col ii. 6, 7- *" Uai. xxvi. 3^